Hanoi Holidays

Hanoi Travel Guide

Vietnam's small and pleasant capital lies at the heart of the
northern Red River Delta, and is a city of lakes, leafy boulevards
and open parks with a French colonial feel.

Hanoi was founded in 1010, and became the centre of government
for the Indochina Union under French rule in 1888. In 1954 it
became the official capital of independent Vietnam. Today ancient
crumbling buildings dating from the 11th century lie scattered
among grand French colonial residences, while shrines and monuments
to Vietnam's first president, Ho Chi Minh, sit in the shadow of
modern high-rise buildings. The streets of the Old Quarter preserve
age-old customs, where trade takes one back half a century, and
temples, pagodas and monuments reflect the historic character of
Vietnam.

Although a city of historical importance, and the social and
cultural centre of Vietnam, it is a surprisingly modest and
charming place, far slower and less developed than Ho Chi Minh City
in the south. Hanoi has retained its appealing sense of the old
world, despite the onset of a brisk tourism trade in 1993,
absorbing the boom of hotels, travellers' hangouts and Internet
cafes, and the gradual infiltration of western-style food and
fashions into the once inaccessible city.

As the early morning mist rises from the serene Hoan Kiem Lake,
tracksuit-clad elders perform the slow movements of tai chi, like
park statues coming to life. Streets fill with activity, mopeds and
bicycles weave among pedestrians, while cyclo drivers
(three-wheeled bicycle taxis) clamour for attention, and postcard
vendors cluster around tourists like bees sensing an open honey
pot.

Hanoi is fast becoming one of the most enticing and interesting
cities in Asia. As a cultural centre there are traditional water
puppet shows, and music and dance performances. It is also a good
base for excursions to the beautiful Halong Bay, or into the Hoang
Lien Mountains inhabited by several hill tribes.

Getting Around

Public transport is limited to buses, which are extremely cheap,
but slow, crowded and a challenge for non-Vietnamese speakers.
There are plenty of taxis to be hired and this is the safest and
easiest way to get across the city, but make sure the meter is
switched on and change is given. Motorbike taxis are also a cheap
and easy way to get around, but the driving can be nerve-wracking.
Renting a car or a motorbike are also popular options; all cars
come with a driver/guide, which is a good idea considering the
chaotic nature of the streets. Visitors should be cautious about
renting a self-drive motorbike, bearing in mind the primary cause
of injury and death among foreigners in Vietnam is due to
motorcycle accidents. Two-seater cyclos (cycle rickshaws) are
plentiful and can be flagged down anywhere, but should be avoided
at night. Fares should be negotiated beforehand and a map is
useful, as many drivers don't speak English.